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Does Rita Crundwell Deserve A Pension?

Rita Crundwell leaves the federal courthouse in Rockford, flanked by her attorneys Paul Gaziano and Kristen Carpenter
Susan Stephens
/
WNIJ
Rita Crundwell leaves the federal courthouse in Rockford, flanked by her attorneys Paul Gaziano and Kristen Carpenter

Former Dixon Comptroller Rita Crundwell could be eligible to receive a large sum of money when she leaves prison. WNIJ's Jenna Dooley spoke with Sauk Valley Media's Matt Mencarini who has been reporting on the case.

He says Crundwell's attorney recently filed a motion in federal court arguing that her client should not have $90,565.86 in pension funds taken by the government.

Part of the reason, according to Crundwell's attorney, is that the city already recovered nearly all of its losses.

Dixon Mayor Jim Burke wrote a letter to Judge Philip Reinhard to object to any money going to Crundwell.

Crundwell is currently serving a 19 year prison sentence in Minnesota. She is expected to be released at the age of 77.

According to Sauk Valley Media, the government has until Dec. 19 to reply to Crundwell's motion.

Update on Crundwell Loans

Also this week, the newspaper reported between November 2008 and January 2012, Crundwell loaned former City Engineer Shawn Ortgiesen and his wife, Angela, $182,862.

The interest rate was set at 4 percent, according to a turnover motion filed Wednesday in federal court. The motion says the Ortgiesens defaulted on the loans.

This week: interest started to accrue as the government prepares to collect the debt.

Jenna Dooley has spent her professional career in public radio. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois - Springfield. She returned to Northern Public Radio in DeKalb after several years hosting Morning Edition at WUIS-FM in Springfield. She is a former "Newsfinder of the Year" from the Illinois Associated Press and recipient of NIU's Donald R. Grubb Journalism Alumni Award. She is an active member of the Illinois News Broadcasters Association and an adjunct instructor at NIU.